The Italian government approved the Bridge project through the Messina Strait. This 13.5 billion building connects the mainland with Sicily.
On Wednesday, the Italian government has finally approved a project worth EUR 13.5 billion for the construction of a bridge in the Messina Strait, which will connect the mainland part of the country with Sicily. It will be the longest suspension bridge in the world and, according to the government, it will be able to withstand strong winds and earthquakes in this region on two tectonic plates. It should be completed in 2032, informs TASR according to the AFP report.
The Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Matteo Salvini from the New Bridge made one of the priorities of Prime Minister Giorgie Meloni. According to him, this project will “enroll in history”.
The beginning of the work
AP reported that preliminary works could start this summer and construction work next year.
The bridge was designed with two railway rails in the middle and three lanes on both sides. The two bridge towers will be 400 meters high and the bridge span will be up to 3.3 kilometers.
Opportunities and concerns
Ministers believe that the construction of the bridge will bring to two poor regions of Italy – Sicily and Calabria – economic growth and job opportunities. According to Salvini, there should be several tens of thousands.
However, the construction of the bridge has triggered protests among local residents in connection with the impact on the environment and high costs. According to critics, this money could be used better.
Historical attempts
There have been several attempts to build a bridge connecting the Italian mainland with Sicily, and the first plans for such construction were developed more than 50 years ago. The previous project was canceled in 2013 in an effort to reduce state spending and public debt.
At the end of June, the Italian government announced that it would try to enforce this construction to be included in defense expenses. The construction costs could thus be a commitment to spend five percent of GDP on defense expenses per year, which was agreed by NATO Member States at the June summit in the Hague, Netherlands. Of the five percent of total defense spending, Member States can spend 1.5 percent on other defense projects, including infrastructure.
